Police: Social Media Post May Have Led To Home Invasion In Northeast Philadelphia
By Steve Patterson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police say a post on a popular social media website may have led to an overnight home invasion in Northeast Philadelphia.
It happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the Brookshire Terrace Apartments in the unit block of Brookshire Drive in the city's Somerton neighborhood.
"You heard the glass all fall and then you heard them scream 'get out of the house run!"
What Reign Alimenti heard was the escape, after police say three men robbed her teenage next door-neighbor at gunpoint.
"It's nuts. I can't even believe that it happened."
Police say three men forced their way through the front door of the apartment. Once inside, they mentioned they had seen a recent post on Instagram from one of the residents about his expensive jewelry collection and demanded the 19-year-old man hand over the goods.
Inside were five teenagers, ages 17-to-19.
Police say the robbers demanded jewelry. They got away with a Rolex watch and several gold chains, jumping out of the second floor window before police arrived.
Authorities say another teen inside the home was quickly able to call police on his cell phone from the bathroom, but the suspects escaped through a back window with a Rolex and a several gold chains as officers arrived.
Police say one of the teenage victims posted several pictures of expensive jewelry to Facebook and Instagram, bragging about inheritance money to friends and followers.
Ray Ferrell lives there. He says he wasn't home at the time, but believes his roommate was targeted by someone close.
"Definitely somebody who was affiliated with him. It had to be. It had to be one of his friends or friends of a friend. I think it was a setup to be honest with you."
Police also recovered three cell phones a short distance from the scene. Two handguns were recovered from inside the residence.
Neighbors here are upset by the crime, but more than anything, believe this is a cautionary tale.
"People don't realize what you put out on the Internet, everyone sees it and it's out there once it's out there."
"They know where you live, you're telling them what you have, it's like almost inviting them in."
No was injured during the robbery.
Police were searching for the suspects.
